Image: BBC
On June 6, the UK government confirmed that "all new homes will be required to have rooftop solar panels by default, unless specific technical limitations prevent installation." This regulation will be formally released in the Future Homes Standard policy this autumn.
The move aligns with Prime Minister Keir Starmer's target of reaching 47GW of solar PV capacity by 2030, which includes large-scale deployment of rooftop solar systems.
The UK aims to achieve net-zero emissions by 2050.In 2022, residential buildings accounted for 20% of the UK's greenhouse gas emissions.The government's advisory body, the Climate Change Committee (CCC), stated that the target is unattainable without "near-total decarbonisation of the housing stock."
As of the end of 2024, the United Kingdom's cumulative installed solar PV capacity reached 20GW, comprised of: 4.2GW from residential rooftop installations；4.2GW from commercial rooftop installations；11.5GW from ground-mounted solar farms.
Earlier this year, Solar Energy UK projected that by 2035, the nation's total solar PV capacity will expand to 90GW, with 15.3 GW on homes, 15.3 GW at commercial scale, and 59.3 GW of solar farms.
